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Jaden Ivey #23 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at the United Center on February 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
The Chicago Bulls made their call on Jaden Ivey. The reaction didn’t stay in basketball.
Hours after the Bulls waived the 24-year-old guard Monday, citing “conduct detrimental to the team,” the fallout spilled beyond the NBA — drawing responses from a political figure and an NFL player as the situation continued to gain traction online.
The team offered no specifics. Others stepped in quickly.
The team offered no specifics in its announcement. Others filled the void quickly.
Reaction Reaches Beyond NBA
Among those weighing in was Matt Rinaldi, who came out in support of Ivey and took aim at the reasoning behind the move.
“The ‘conduct detrimental to the team’ was he is an outspoken Christian who criticized the NBA celebrating Pride Month,” Rinaldi wrote on X. He added that Ivey “should sue” the organization.
Rinaldi, an attorney who previously served in the Texas House of Representatives, tied the situation to a broader debate over personal beliefs in sports — a framing that has surfaced repeatedly as the story has unfolded.
The reaction didn’t stop there.
Azareyeh Thomas of the New York Jets also weighed in, posting a message centered on faith and conviction.
“The world will try to make sin look normal and righteousness look strange,” Thomas wrote. “When it’s all said and done, we’ll give an account to an audience of One.”
The post, which included multiple Bible references, circulated widely as the discussion around Ivey picked up steam.
Neither Rinaldi nor Thomas has ties to the Bulls, but their involvement underscored how quickly the story moved beyond a routine roster transaction.
Bulls Point to Standards, Not Details
Inside the organization, coach Billy Donovan offered a more measured explanation.
“Organizationally, there’s certain standards I think we want to have as an organization and live up to those each and every day,” Donovan said, via The Athletic.
It wasn’t a detailed answer, but it was the clearest window into the team’s thinking after the initial statement left questions unanswered.
The phrase “conduct detrimental to the team” is often used as a catch-all in these situations. Rarely does it come with immediate clarification. In this case, it hasn’t — at least not publicly.
A Situation That Built Over Time
The move didn’t come out of nowhere.
Reporting earlier in the day indicated the Bulls had already been working toward an exit involving Ivey. By the time the waiver became official, the situation had already been trending in that direction.
What pushed it there — or when — remains unclear.
What is clear is that Ivey’s recent social media activity became part of the conversation.
In a series of posts and livestreams, he spoke at length about faith, personal beliefs and life beyond basketball. Some messages drew support. Others drew criticism. The volume of attention only grew as clips spread across platforms.
The Bulls have not directly tied those posts to the decision. The timing, though, has left little doubt about how closely the two are being linked.
Short Stay, Unfinished Fit
Ivey never found his footing in Chicago.
Acquired at the trade deadline as part of a multi-team deal involving the Detroit Pistons, he appeared in just four games for the Bulls. In limited minutes, he averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists — flashes, but nothing sustained.
A knee issue shut him down for the rest of the season. By then, he had already slipped out of the rotation.
The opportunity never really materialized.
What Comes Next
Now, Ivey is back on the market — a former No. 5 overall pick with clear talent and an increasingly complicated recent track record.
Some team will have to decide what matters more: the upside or everything that has come with it lately.
For the Bulls, the decision is already made.
For Ivey, the next one is just beginning.
Alder Almo is a veteran NBA reporter for Heavy.com, covering the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. He brings over 20 years of experience across local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Originally from the Philippines, he is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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